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Better Kid Care Team

On Demand modules

Are you a CACFP participant and working toward your National CACFP Professional Certification? Better Kid Care is pleased to announce that specific On Demand modules have been approved for credit for this program. Click for a listing of modules under specialty areas.

Sleep is as essential to good health as nutrition and physical activity. Researchers continue to discover ways in which sleep affects health in children. Recent connections have been made between sleep and hormone regulation as it relates to the risk of obesity. Association between brain development, cognitive and behavioral effects are areas of interest as well. This lesson explores the relationship of sleep and health including helpful tips and recommendations for age-specific requirements. (K7.3 C1, CDA 1) 2 hours

The fourth goal in the Let’s Move! Child Care Initiative is to provide (offer) healthy beverages. Calories found in beverages count just like calories in food so it is important to make sure that the healthiest choices are offered. With so many beverage options now available, the choices can be confusing to parents and caregivers. Child care providers will learn appropriate beverage options for children in their care, the benefits of healthy beverages and strategies for how best to transition to serving them. (K7.12 C2, CDA 2) 2 hours

Goal two in Let’s Move! Child Care is to reduce (limit) screen time. Studies show that children who spend more time viewing TV are at an increased risk for overweight and obesity due to increased sedentary activity. Screen time refers to all digital media including TV and can interfere with cognitive development for children under the age of two. Child care providers will learn the best practice recommendations and gain an understanding for why it is important to reduce (limit) screen time for young children. (K7.3 C2, CDA 2) 2 hours

Goal number one in the Let’s Move! Child Care initiative is to get kids moving (increase physical activity). Research shows that physical activity provides many benefits for everyone and that it is important for parents and care providers to be good role models. This lesson can help child care providers learn the most up-to-date recommendations for physical activity levels for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, and presents new ways to keep kids moving. (K7.3 C2, CDA 2) 2 hours

Goal number five in the Let’s Move! Child Care initiative is to support infant breastfeeding by encouraging mothers to breastfeed. Breastfeeding benefits mothers and babies in many ways, including helping to prevent childhood obesity. Continuing to breastfeed for the recommended amount of time can be challenging, especially when children need to be in child care. Child care providers will learn practical solutions for encouraging and supporting mothers to breastfeed their babies.(K7.13 C1, CDA 2) 2 hours

Let’s Move! Child Care (LMCC) is part of Let’s Move!, a comprehensive initiative started by Michelle Obama to help turn the rising tide of childhood obesity in the United States. Child care providers play an important role in helping to develop healthy eating and physical activity habits in young children. This lesson is an overview of the issue of childhood obesity and an introduction to the LMCC lesson series that covers the five goal areas in greater detail. (K7.3 C1, CDA 2) 2 hours

Cooking with young children is an important way for them to learn through sensory exploration. Safety concerns, as well as the potential “mess” often prohibit families and early educators from including children in cooking activities. This lesson provides practical guidance for fun and manageable ideas to encourage children in the development of their culinary skills. (K7.3 C2 CDA2) 2 hours

Healthy food is essential for everyone’s well-being. Child care providers play a key role in helping children get needed nourishment and also develop healthy habits. Cooking knowledge and skills enable early care and education professionals to provide healthy, low-cost options for children, to engage in cooking activities with children, and to encourage healthy eating at home. This module introduces many hands-on activities to help improve skills in planning and preparing meals for children. (K7.3 C1, CDA2) 2 hours

Bed bugs are commonly introduced into child care settings, and may become established without proper preventive steps. Although bed bugs do not cause disease, they are considered a threat to health and safety, and they alarm staff and families. This module provides information, activities, and guidelines to assist child care providers in the prevention and safe elimination of bed bugs, and in how to communicate effectively about bed bugs with staff and families. (K7.1 C1, CDA1) 2 hours

Family child care providers play an important role in the health of young children in their care. This module focuses on action steps suggested by thought leaders, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers at the Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Summit (2016). These collected next steps are opportunities for early care and education settings, and specifically the family child care setting, to support healthy weight in young children and improve provider wellness. (K7.3 C2, CDA2) 2 hours

Cultural awareness and learning experiences for young children are enhanced through exposure to hands-on cooking and tasting activities with ethnic foods. Children are more open to trying new foods from other cultures when they have been involved in the preparation process. In this module, learn strategies to introduce healthy versions of ethnic foods with simple recipe ideas to make with the children. (K7.13, C1, CDA 2) 2 hours

Family child care providers face unique challenges in offering and participating in physical activities with the children in their care. This module provides practical, economic solutions to the barriers that can influence a family child care provider's ability to lead successful physical activities whether the issue is space, cost or provider ability. Learn from a leading physical education expert about fun ways to incorporate more physical activity into every day. (K7.3 C2, CDA2) 2 hours

Food allergies are on the rise. Though the reason is not yet clear, key to caring for young children with food allergies is the creation of a plan for preventing allergic reactions and for how to respond to a food allergy emergency. This lesson describes food allergies and what early care and education professionals need to know to ensure the health and safety of children with food allergies. (K7.12 C1, CDA 1) 2 hours

Providing healthy and safe food in child care is a key role for both center and home-based child care practitioners. Preventing foodborne illness (FBI), and making sure children are safe from choking risks and other food-related injuries, requires awareness and planning. This lesson describes guidelines for food safety practices that will enable child care providers to make food healthy and safe for the children in their care. (K7.14 C1, CDA 1) 2 hours

Planting, growing and harvesting a garden provide opportunities for growth and development in young children on multiple levels. From learning the origin of food to exposure to new and healthy foods, children benefit from the experience. This lesson explores practical ways to garden with children in a variety of settings, offers important tips for success and ideas for incorporating nutrition education. (K7.3 C2 CDA1) 2 hours

Research documents the benefits of playing, learning, and simply being outdoors. National and international movements encourage more time in nature. However, this can be challenging for early care professionals. In this lesson, adult facilitators view examples of rural, suburban, and urban programs that support outdoor fun. Grow in confidence, understanding and capacity to support best practices in outdoor play for birth to school-age children. (K7.3 C2 CDA2) 2 hours

Child care practitioners are important role models for the children in their care. The phrase "actions speak louder than words" is especially true for children since they watch and imitate what adults are doing. Being a healthy role model not only is important for the children but enables the care provider to have the energy and good health to meet the demands of the job. This lesson explores key concepts and actions for modeling healthy behaviors for children. (K7.3 C2 CDA 1) 2 hours

All child care professionals are responsible to keep the children in their care healthy and safe. Individuals who care for and teach children need to know how to 1) create safe spaces, 2) use safe practices with children, 3) develop and implement daily illness prevention and management strategies, and 4) plan to keep children safe if an emergency occurs. (K7.1 C1, CDA1) 6 hours